Restock Dates: Please see our Farm Blog where we post our weekly newsletter for the latest updates

Numerous Farm Updates

written by

Ben Simmons

posted on

April 14, 2018

Farm Update –

I want to thank all our customers for your support and business. Sales continues to grow. April delivery cycle we had 7-new customers place their first orders. Reservations for chicken have been strong.

As you read this update, I am returning from a bull sell in Missouri! After Wednesday's delivery I traded out the delivery trailer for the cattle trailer and headed for the sale in Springfield - with expectations of making Jonesboro, AR before stopping for rest. The sale starts on Thursday at 1 PM. We are looking at both Red and Black Angus bulls. A major selection criteria is tenderness and marbling that is determined from ultrasound data collected on each bull. I will also provide delivery to other farmers along Route #3 that covers NW Arkansas, North MS and down to Montgomery, AL before returning home

The bulls will be much more expensive than what we have paid in the past, but represent an investment in providing our customers a quality product.

Wednesday, March 28th I spoke at Dr. Gibbs two Entrepreneurship classes in Scianna Hall (the new business college building). This came about through one of our long term customers who is taking the class and discussed the possibility with Dr. Gibbs. This was a very rewarding experience - to be able to share our story of regenerative farming. The class was very attentive and asked really good questions. And, Scianna Hall is amazing. Nothing like the Green building where I took my business courses - but then there was no such thing as computers or cellphones back then! Thanks to Dr. Gibbs for inspiring her students and using local entrepreneurs.

I also have an appointment with a USM Grad Student majoring in Nutrition who has an assignment to interview a farmer! She was smart in locating a local farmer by visiting the Farmers Market and asking around. Someone there told her about Nature's Gourmet Farm. 

This past week I collected soil samples from all pastures (an 8-10 hour task) and mailed them off Monday morning. Results are due back April 10th. I'm excited to see what improvements have been accomplished and to learn what is needed next.

The last item posted to our Facebook page was an interview with Andrea Leyerle from Livingston when she and her husband visited the farm to pickup their 2nd Half Beef order. 

Customer Feedback- The beef is excellent! So far I have put up 14 quarts of bone broth, we have had spaghetti with meat sauce, ribeye steaks, and tonight we are having burgers! I am on a beef binge for the foreseeable future! Thank you for doing what you do. My family appreciates it very much! A Leyerle

Quote Worth Re-Quoting –  "Food security is not in the supermarket. It's not in the government. It's not at the emergency services division. True food security is the historical normalcy of packing it in during the abundant times, building that in-house larder, and resting easy knowing that our little ones are not dependent on next week's farmers' market or the electronic cashiers at the supermarket." --Joel Salatin

As always, thank you for supporting our regenerative, local farm.

Ben & Beth

 

More from the blog

Taste Test

Greetings Ben and Beth, I'm really looking forward to my next order pick up. I'm trying to improve my cholesterol numbers, thus eating more chicken, and ran out of your chicken products. I ended up buying some industrially produced chicken, and man was that a mistake! It smelled terrible raw, also while it was being sauteed, and also later when I reheated it to put into an otherwise healthy salad. I have enough of this subpar stuff to last until I pick my order, but I don't think I can ever buy this CAFO stuff again.

Beef Update & A New Product

Beef Update – Typically this time of year folks are hesitant to buy bulk beef for their freezer due to hurricane risk. That is why we have delayed our next custom half & whole beef processing until September. If you are interested, our next harvest will be September 2nd with pickup on September 22nd. If you want to be included then please email me your name, email, and cell number to be added to our wait list - and be the first folks contacted and guaranteed to receive an order. Beef prices continue to increase and hit a new All-Time high this week fueled by strong demand and limited supply. For example, based on what a 700 pound steer sold for at the Hattiesburg Stockyard Monday, I could make more than feeding him till he weighs 1100 pounds and sell as packaged beef - but our mission is to provide nutrient-dense, clean food to our customers. Effective immediately custom beef half and whole prices will increase $0.50 to $6.25 per pound based on the hanging weight. Retail cuts will increase for September deliveries as well.

Real Health Is NOT A Pill. It's A Practice!

Two Great Must Read Articles – Typically I don't make a big deal about articles we have read, but these two are so good that I felt they needed to be shared. The first is by Joel Salatin titled "Food Think" that is part of his The Lunatic Farmer blog. You can read the full article at this link. The second article is one Beth forwarded to me from the Health Viewpoints section of Epoch Times titled "Americans Spend Trillions on Health Care but Remain Unwell - Here's Why" Dr. Yang, FAPA, a board certified psychiatrist, begins by stating the difference between treating disease and building true health lies in a proactive and preventative lifestyle. Note - Beth and I would agree with other folks who commented that his article is spot on and very important for folks to read and understand. You can read at this link.